This recipe for haddock fish is quick and easy with a breaded cracker crust that is baked in the oven. Use leftover cracker pieces that would otherwise get tossed to make a mouthwatering breaded crust! Serve this haddock fillet recipe with a side of vegetables or turn them into fish tacos.

Why this is the best haddock fillet recipe

This haddock recipe is a versatile meal! Haddock loin is a white fish with a flaky texture and mild flavor that is wonderful to make breaded, pan-fry, or baked in the oven to serve as fish ‘n’ chips, a main dish, or used as fish tacos!

The breading in this haddock fillet recipe is so easy utilizing crackers in place of bread crumbs! Using crackers for the breading adds bountiful flavor and is fantastic to use all those crumbs at the bottom of the box. Add a little salt and pepper to the haddock loins before the breading to bring out the best savory taste.

This meal is a fish recipe for baking which makes it healthier than frying. But it can be made pan fry as well! If pan frying add oil to hot skillet and heat. Add the fish after it is prepared and cook for 3-4 minutes on each side or until the fish is cooked through.

Recipe ingredients: Fish and breading

• Olive oil (for greasing the baking dish, or use cooking oil spray)
• Haddock fillets (four pieces or about 1 pound)
• Crumbled crackers (such as wheat, butter crackers, or another favorite kind)
• Garlic powder
• Flour (regular or gluten-free)
• Eggs (large eggs)
• Salt and pepper (optional for seasoning the fillets)
• Meat thermometer(for safer cooking)

STEP 1: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Pat the haddock fillets dry with a paper towel and grease the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking dish with olive oil or cooking spray.

STEP 2: Season the haddock all over with salt and pepper.

STEP 3: In a food processor add the crackers and process to form a fine crumb, but do not overprocess. Mix in the garlic powder and optional any additional seasonings.

STEP 4: Prepare a breading station with three plates with a rim. Put the flour into the first plate. In the second plate add whisked eggs. Transfer the crackers crumble into the third plate.

STEP 5: Dip and thoroughly coat each fish fillet in the flour, then the egg, and finally the cracker crumbs. Set the breaded fish on the prepared baking dish in a single layer.

STEP 6: Bake for 10-12 minutes, until the fish is cooked through, and the internal temperature reaches 145 degrees F. Serve immediately.

Variations and substitutions

Flavor variations – To change the flavors of this haddock fillet recipe, it is optional to add seasoning to the cracker breading. Mix in either 2 teaspoons of lemon pepper seasoning, Bay Seasoning, or Italian seasoning mix to the cracker crumbs, before dipping.

Gluten-free substitutions – To make this haddock fillet recipe gluten-free use gluten-free butter crackers for the crumbs and gluten-free flour for the flour.

Tips for Seafood and Fish

• When working with fresh seafood and fish, it should never have a “fish” smell. To tell if fish is fresh, give it a good sniff! It may have a slight scent but not overpowering.
• Make sure not to overcook seafood as it can become tough and chewy. It should only take about 10-12 minutes for white fish to cook when baked at 400 degrees F.
• Make sure to pat dry the fish before breading as this helps the cracker-breading stick.

How to tell if haddock fish is cooked enough

Cooking times will vary depending on thickness of fish. Seafood is cooked through when the internal temperature reaches at least 145 degrees F in it is opaque and separates easily from a fork. Use a ChefsTemp thermometer to check that the haddock fillets are cooked through. Cook or 10 minutes and check for doneness, as thicker pieces may need up to 2 more minutes to reach a safe temperature. Using a meat thermometer ensures that fish is not overcooked. Overcooked fish tends to become tough and chewy rather than light and flakey.

For more information, please refer to our meat cooking chart.

Cracker-Breaded Haddock Fillets

Servings: 4

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cook time: 12 minutes

Ingredients

1 lb. Haddock fillets (4 fillets)

Salt and pepper

1 cup wheat or butter crackers, crumbled then measured
(about 1 ½ smaller whole crackers)

½ teaspoon garlic powder

3/4 cup flour

2 eggs, large

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Pat the haddock fillets dry with a paper towel and grease the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking dish with olive oil or cooking spray.
2. Season the haddock all over with salt and pepper.
3. In a food processor add the crackers and process to form a fine crumb, but do not overprocess. Mix in the garlic powder and optional any additional seasonings (see notes below).
4. Prepare a breading station with three plates with a rim. Put the flour into the first plate. In the second plate add whisked eggs. Transfer the crackers crumble into the third plate.
5. Dip and thoroughly coat each fish fillet in the flour, then the egg, and finally the cracker crumbs. Set the breaded fish on the prepared baking dish in a single layer.
6. Bake for 10-12 minutes, until the fish is cooked through, and the internal temperature reaches 145 degrees F. Serve immediately.

Notes:

Optional to add extra flavor to the breading. Mix in either 2 teaspoons of lemon pepper seasoning, Bay Seasoning, or Italian seasoning mix to the cracker crumbs.

Make sure to pat dry the fish fillets as it helps the breading to stick.